The Final Roster Is Set

Bill Shaikin has the details on the final cuts.

"The Dodgers decided that Blake DeWitt, who started last season as the third baseman and ended last season as the second baseman, could play shortstop well enough to back up Rafael Furcal as needed. So they sent veteran infielder Juan Castro to the minor leagues Sunday, along with infielder Luis Maza and pitchers Tanyon Sturtze and Erick Threets.

That left Ronald Belisario, a 26-year-old right-hander who never pitched above double-A in six seasons in the Florida Marlins and Pittsburgh Pirates organizations, as the last arm in the seven-man bullpen."

I still don't like keeping DeWitt around as a utility man, but it's possible that keeping only 4 outfielders means the Dodgers realize that Blake might be best playing in the outfield part-time, in which case this could be a good move. Though I get the feeling that watching DeWitt play shortstop will be somewhat painful. If it means keeping Castro off the roster though, then i'm all for it.

As far as Belisario goes, I don't necessarily mind the move, but i'm highly skeptical. Look, I understand that he was dominant in Spring Training, and I came away impressed when I watched him pitch. However, it's still just Spring Training, and Belisario hasn't posted an ERA below 4 past high-A ball, and even then it's 3.94. Sorry to rain on his parade, but that's his reality right now until he proves otherwise. The positive thing about keeping him is that Sturtze is gone.

Rotation (5)

Chad Billingsley
Hiroki Kuroda
Clayton Kershaw
Randy Wolf
James McDonald

Bullpen (7)

Jonathan Broxton
Hong Chih Kuo
Cory Wade
Will Ohman
Ramon Troncoso
Guillermo Mota
Ronald Belisario

Catchers (2)

Russell Martin
Brad Ausmus

Infielders (7)

James Loney
Doug Mientkiewicz
Orlando Hudson
Mark Loretta
Casey Blake
Blake DeWitt
Rafael Furcal

Outfielders (4)

Andre Ethier
Matt Kemp
Manny Ramirez
Juan Pierre

Disabled List (3)

Jason Schmidt
Claudio Vargas
Delwyn Young